Politics

Who are the new faces in Carney's cabinet? Who's on their way out?

Prime Minister Mark Carney is taking over from Justin Trudeau with a slimmer front bench. Here’s a breakdown of the new members of cabinet and those who won’t be returning.

Carney's cabinet will consist of 24 members, down from the 39 members who made up Trudeau's final cabinet

A group of people in business attire pose for a group photo in a large hall.
Prime Minister Mark Carney, front fourth from left, poses with members of the newly sworn-in Liberal cabinet following a ceremony at Rideau Hall in Ottawa on Friday. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press)

Prime Minister Mark Carney is taking over from Justin Trudeau with a slimmer front bench.

Carney will have a 24-member cabinet compared to Trudeau's most recent ministry, which included 39 members.

"We have new ministers with new ideas, ready to respond to new threats and seize new opportunities," Carney said during a news conference Friday.

"Our leaner cabinet will focus on two priorities in particular. First, protecting Canadian workers and their families in the face of unjustified foreign trade actions. And second, growing this great country by putting more money in Canadians' pockets by ensuring the government spends less so Canada can invest more," the new prime minister pledged.

WATCH | PM Carney delivers first speech after being sworn in at Rideau Hall: 

FULL SPEECH | PM Carney delivers first speech after being sworn in at Rideau Hall

14 hours ago
Duration 4:42
Following a ceremony at Rideau Hall in Ottawa on Friday, Prime Minister Mark Carney says it’s a ‘solemn duty to serve as prime minister at this time of great consequence for our country.’

A number of Carney's cabinet ministers have either kept the jobs they held under Trudeau or are taking on a new role. But the new prime minister is bringing on a few new faces as well.

To slim out his front bench, Carney also had to drop a number of MPs from cabinet — including some longtime Trudeau ministers.

Carney dropped a number of ministers who backed Liberal leadership rivals, but he cut an equal amount of ministers who endorsed his own campaign.

Here's a breakdown of the new members of cabinet and those who won't be returning.

The new faces

Kody Blois

Nova Scotia MP Kody Blois is taking on the role of agriculture minister and minister responsible for rural economic development.

Blois has been an MP since winning a seat in the 2019 election. His riding of Kings-Hants had previously been held by former cabinet minister Scott Brison.

Although he previously hadn't been in cabinet, he held some key roles in Parliament, chairing multiple committees and briefing serving as a parliamentary secretary. 

Blois had also previously been the chair of the Liberal's Atlantic caucus. He had lobbied Trudeau back in 2023 to carve out a carbon tax exemption on home heating oil.

A man places his hand on a bible as he reads a statement.
Kody Blois is sworn in as the minister of agriculture and agri-food and rural economic development during a swearing-in ceremony at Rideau Hall in Ottawa on Friday. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press)

Ali Ehsassi

Toronto MP Ali Ehsassi is the new procurement minister while taking on a newly created role of "minister of government transformation."

This is Ehsassi's first ministerial role, though he's been an MP since 2015. He has been the chair for a few House committees and had been Navdeep Bains's parliamentary secretary when he was minister of industry.

Ehsassi had been vocally calling for a caucus vote on Trudeau's leadership well before the now former prime minister stepped down.

A man in a blue stripped suit motions with his hands as he speaks into a microphone.
Ali Ehsassi has been sworn in as minister of public services and procurement. (Patrick Doyle/The Canadian Press)

Arielle Kayabaga

Arielle Kayabaga, the MP for London-West, has been named the new government House leader — a role previously held by Liberal leadership candidate Karina Gould.

Kayabaga is a relatively new MP, having only won her seat in the last federal election in 2021.

With an election looming, all ministers could potentially have a limited time in their new roles. But given that the House leader is responsible for managing legislative affairs, Kayabaga will have almost no influence in that job before Canada heads to the polls — Carney is largely expected to call an election before the House is set to return on March 24.

A woman reads a statement as others look on.
Arielle Kayabaga is sworn in as the House leader during a ceremony at Rideau Hall in Ottawa on Friday. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press)

Who's out

Mark Holland

Serving most recently as minister of health, Mark Holland held a few cabinet positions in Trudeau's government.

Holland had been an MP prior to Trudeau taking over the leadership of the party, holding a seat for the former riding of Ajax-Pickering from 2004 until 2011. He would be re-elected in 2015.

Before taking on the health portfolio, he had been a parliamentary secretary, government whip and government House leader on Trudeau's front bench.

Minister of Health Mark Holland rises during Question Period, Monday, Dec 2, 2024 in Ottawa.
Former minister of health Mark Holland announced Thursday that he wouldn't be seeking re-election. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press)

Holland had endorsed Chrystia Freeland in the leadership race. He announced Thursday evening that he wouldn't be seeking re-election.

"I have been so lucky to work with the absolute best, most wonderful people," he wrote in a social media post, announcing his decision.

"I will always be at your side; I will just now do it out of office as I will not be running in the next election. It's time to go home."

Diane Lebouthillier

Diane Lebouthillier had been a member of Trudeau's cabinet since the Liberals won their first election under the former leader in 2015.

The Quebec MP spent most of her time in cabinet as minister for national revenue. She was shuffled to the fisheries and oceans portfolio in 2023.

Lebouthillier has been an MP since 2015 and intends to run again in the next election. She endorsed Freeland in the leadership contest.

A woman in glasses and a brown blazer stands in the House of Commons.
Diane Lebouthillier had been part of Trudeau's cabinet since 2015. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press)

Marc Miller

A close personal friend of Trudeau, Marc Miller has been an MP since 2015 and has held a few different cabinet positions since 2019.

The Montreal MP had most recently been immigration minister, after serving as Crown-Indigenous relations minister and minister for Indigenous services before that.

As immigration minister, Miller was tasked with handling what has become a fairly contentious file in recent years.

Miller backed Carney in the leadership race and intends to run in the next election.

Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Marc Miller
Former minister of immigration, refugees and citizenship Marc Miller is a close friend of former prime minister Justin Trudeau. (Spencer Colby/The Canadian Press)

Jean-Yves Duclos

Like Lebouthillier, Jean-Yves Duclos had been in Trudeau's cabinet from the start but has now been relegated to the backbench by Carney.

The Quebec MP held four cabinet positions since 2015: procurement, health, treasury board and families and social development.

Duclos had been one of the more vocal supporters in Trudeau's cabinet when caucus began raising questions about the latter's leadership back in the fall.

Duclos endorsed Carney's leadership bid. He is slated to run again in his Quebec City riding.

Public Services and Procurement Minister Jean-Yves Duclos replies to a question during a news conference in Ottawa, Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld
Quebec MP Jean-Yves Duclos held multiple cabinet roles in the Trudeau government. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press)

Ahmed Hussen

Toronto MP Ahmed Hussen finds himself on the backbench after serving in Trudeau's cabinet since 2017.

Hussen held four portfolios during his time in cabinet: immigration, families and social development, housing and international development.

Hussen had endorsed Freeland in the leadership race. He is running for re-election.

A balding man with gray hair in a blue suit
Ahmed Hussen had been a cabinet minister since 2017. (Justin Tang/The Canadian Press)

Ya'ara Saks

Another Toronto MP, Ya'ara Saks has only been a cabinet minister (and MP) for a few years.

Saks won her seat in a 2020 byelection and was sworn in as minister of mental health and addictions during a cabinet shuffle in 2023. That is the only cabinet post she has held.

Saks endorsed Gould for the leadership following her performance in the debates. She is seeking re-election.

Minister of Mental Health and Addictions Ya’ara Saks listens to questions at a news conference on the Emergency Treatment Fund to help with the toxic drug and overdose crisis, at the National Press Theatre in Ottawa, on Friday, Oct. 11, 2024.
Ya’ara Saks was a relative newcomer to Trudeau's cabinet, having been sworn in in 2023. (Justin Tang/The Canadian Press)

Jenna Sudds

Like Saks, Sudds is a relative newcomer to Trudeau's cabinet who is returning to the backbench under Carney.

The Ottawa MP won her seat in the 2021 election and became minister of families, children and social development in the 2023 shuffle.

Sudds backed Carney's leadership bid and she is running again in the next election.

A smiling woman with blond hair, wearing a dusty rose blazer, standing at a podium and speaking into a microphone.
Ottawa MP Jenna Sudds had served as minister of families, children and social development since 2023. (Radio-Canada)

Terry Beech

Giving Terry Beech the boot from cabinet may have been a symbolic move for Carney in his attempts to trim down the Liberal front benches.

The B.C. MP was sworn into cabinet in 2023 in a newly created role of minister of citizens' services. At the time, it wasn't entirely clear what the new role would cover — though it seems possible that some of those responsibilities will now fall to Ehsassi.

Beech endorsed Freeland in the leadership campaign and is expected to seek re-election.

Minister of Citizens’ Services, Terry Beech listens to questions from seniors on the Canadian Dental Care Plan in Burnaby, B.C. on Wednesday Mar. 6, 2024.
B.C. MP Terry Beech was tapped as the first ever minister of citizens' services in 2023. (Ethan Cairns/The Canadian Press)

Ruby Sahota

Ruby Sahota has been an MP since 2015, but her time in cabinet has been incredibly short.

The Brampton, Ont., MP was named minister of democratic institutions in December after Freeland's resignation forced Trudeau to quickly shuffle his cabinet.

Sahota endorsed Carney in the leadership race. She slated to seek re-election.

A man and a woman shake hands.
Ruby Sahota was sworn in as minister of democratic institutions on Dec.20, 2024. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press)

Darren Fisher

Like Sahota, Nova Scotia MP Darren Fisher had only been a cabinet minister for a few months.

Fisher took on the role of minister of veteran affairs in Trudeau's cabinet shuffle in December.

Fisher endorsed Carney's leadership bid. He is seeking re-election this year.

A man in a suit smiles as he signs a document at a table.
Nova Scotia MP Darren Fisher had only been a cabinet minister for a few months (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press)

A number of MPs who held cabinet positions up until Friday had previously indicated that they would not be seeking re-election. They are: Gudie Hutchings from Newfoundland and Labrador; Lawrence MacAulay from P.E.I.; Pascale St-Onge from Quebec; Marci Ien, Mary Ng and Arif Virani from Ontario; and Harjit Sajjan from B.C.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Darren Major

CBC Journalist

Darren Major is a senior writer for CBC's Parliamentary Bureau. He can be reached via email at darren.major@cbc.ca.